The MVP Race

[MickeyDavis]

All votes are in this week, before the playoffs start. Peter King had 36 former players and media members pick their MVP's. 32 picked Rodgers. None are among the 50 who vote, although King is (he didn't say who he's voting for and is not included in the 36). He lists who the 36 are at the end of his column. Even Florio picked Rodgers.

Rodgers In MVP Rout

After the comments of Chicago-based NFL MVP voter Hub Arkush critical of Aaron Rodgers last week, I was motivated to take the temperature of former players I respect, and members of the media I respect to see what a varied panel of football people thought of the tight race this year for the award.

Arkush created a firestorm last week when he said of Rodgers: “I just think that the way he’s carried himself is inappropriate. I think he’s a bad guy, and I don’t think a bad guy can be the most valuable guy at the same time.”

That seems so outlandish to me, a throwback to the days when the media was known for taking personal grudges into the coverage of players. I think back to the really old days, back in the forties and fifties, when Ted Williams famously had spats with writers. Amazingly, he never won the MVP in either year that he won the Triple Crown, and lost out also in 1941, when he was the last player to hit over .400 for a season. Arkush’s words harm us all. If one of the 50 voters for the NFL awards, Arkush, feels Rodgers is a “bad guy” and won’t vote for him for MVP, why wouldn’t a sports fan or a reader of mine think I’m the same way and wouldn’t vote for people I think are jerks? Or think any of the other voters are the same way?

So late in the week, I assembled 36 voters. Ten are former players, now in the media or in private life, and the others mostly are media members. (They are listed below.) None vote for the AP awards, which are the awards given out by the NFL each year. I vote for the AP awards, and so I did not vote in these.

In next week’s column, I plan to share a more thorough list of all the categories—Coach, Rookies, Offensive and Defensive Players, Assistant Coach and GM. But this week, it’s all about the Most Valuable Player. The vote:

1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay, 32 votes
T-2. Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay, 2 votes
T-2. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati, 2 votes

Brady had one of the best years of his career at 44, leading the NFL with 5,316 passing yards and 43 touchdowns. His Bucs’ 13-4 record was identical to Green Bay’s. Burrow came back from a major knee injury last November to drive woebegone Cincinnati to a division title and a 4-0 sweep of AFC North powers Baltimore and Pittsburgh. In his last two games, wins over Baltimore and Kansas City, he threw for an astounding 971 yards.

It’s amazing, to me, that Rodgers got 32 of 36 votes. Carl Banks, the former linebacker and current Giants’ radio analyst, and PFF’s Steve Palazzolo chose Brady, while Defector’s Kalyn Kahler and Kim Jones of NFL Network picked Burrow. Everyone else picked Rodgers. After a lousy season-opener against the Saints, Rodgers threw 37 touchdowns and two interceptions. He had one of the most remarkable seasons a quarterback ever had, and voter after voter saw it.

“He’s the best player on the field every time he steps on the grass,” former quarterback Carson Palmer said.

“His accuracy is a work of art,” said ESPN’s Dianna Russini. “His receivers never break stride, and typically they don’t even have to extend for the ball because it’s exactly where it needs to be. Sugar Ray Robinson once said, ‘If you want to be the champ, you have to beat the champ.’ There is no player better than Rodgers.”

Said NBC’s Simms, a former NFL passer: “Green Bay has a good offense with good talent. But nothing is great other than Aaron and Davante Adams. They are as QB-dependent as any team in the NFL. And he is doing it as efficiently as we have ever seen anyone do it. His ability to be a gunslinger while also taking care of the ball better than anyone in history is astounding.”

My panel: Carl Banks, retired LB/Giants radio analyst; Bill Barnwell, ESPN; Judy Battista, NFL.com; Paul Burmeister, NBC; Joe Buck, FOX Sports; Darius Butler, former CB/podcaster; Kevin Clark, The Ringer; Cris Collinsworth, retired WR/NBC Sports; Greg Cosell, NFL Films; Ian Eagle, CBS Sports; Rich Eisen, NFL Network; Jori Epstein, USA Today; Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk; Frank Frigo, EdjSports/Champion Gaming; Scott Hanson, NFL RedZone channel; Stephen Holder, The Athletic.

Also: Kim Jones, NFL Network; Kalyn Kahler, Defector; Aditi Kinkhabwala, NFL Network; Andrea Kremer, Amazon; Chris Long, retired DL/podcaster; Curt Menefee, FOX Sports; Josh McCown, retired QB; Greg Olsen, retired TE/FOX Sports; Dan Orlovsky, retired QB/ESPN; Steve Palazzolo, PFF; Carson Palmer, retired QB; Tom Pelissero, NFL Network; Tashan Reed, The Athletic; Louis Riddick, retired DB/ESPN “Monday Night Football;” Dianna Russini, ESPN; Peter Schrager, Good Morning Football; Chris Simms, retired QB/NBC Sports; Mike Tannenbaum, former GM/ESPN/33rd Team; Colleen Wolfe, NFL Network; Steve Wyche, NFL Network.

[Big Dog Yank]

Good post, MD. I know winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal, but Aaron getting his 4th MVP would be huge. He's been my all-time-favorite player for over a decade now and if he wins this and a second Super Bowl, I think that cements him on the Mount Rushmore of all-time QBs.

I, too, was surprised he got 32 of 36 votes. I doubt the official vote won't be that lopsided.

[BUCKnation]

It's clearly rodgers. Brady has kind of sucked recently and no one else has a case. Rodgers, even without the counting stats, has just been cruising all year after week 1.

[Ron Swanson]

Yeah, didn't really think Aaron had much of a chance at #4 after missing the Arizona game, but he just turned it on the last 6 weeks and left everyone in the dust. Brady has the yards/TD's but nowhere near the same efficiency. Taylor had a shot but the Colts missing the playoffs made it irrelevant. It's Rodgers and I'd be amazed if it isn't a landslide.

[FAH1223]

It'd be nice for Aaron but I don't care. I want him holding the Super Bowl MVP.

Every time he's won the MVP, its that 2011 Giants game, that 2014 Seahawks game, and of course last year at home losing to the Brady Bunch. Just a bad omen for winning it!

[RiotPunch]

It's Aaron. He's still a **** ignorant, arrogant prick. But it's Aaron.

[PintSizedBox10]

I'm a little surprised TJ Watt appears to be getting no push for MVP. 22.5 sacks in 15 games is kind of incredible.

At this point I'm all for splitting the MVP award into Defense / Offense.

[JimmyTheKid]

Again, I ask, what is this team's record with Jordan Love and a mostly second string O-Line?

Rodgers is the MVP and I don't think its particularly close.

[MickeyDavis]

I'm a little surprised TJ Watt appears to be getting no push for MVP. 22.5 sacks in 15 games is kind of incredible.

At this point I'm all for splitting the MVP award into Defense / Offense.

There's already an offensive and defensive player of the year. Last year it was Derrick Henry and Aaron Donald. Kind of odd when the offensive player of the year and MVP are different but they usually are.

[PintSizedBox10]

I'm a little surprised TJ Watt appears to be getting no push for MVP. 22.5 sacks in 15 games is kind of incredible.

At this point I'm all for splitting the MVP award into Defense / Offense.

There's already an offensive and defensive player of the year. Last year it was Derrick Henry and Aaron Donald. Kind of odd when the offensive player of the year and MVP are different but they usually are.

There is, but does anyone give a crap about the OPOY?

I guess my gripe is defensive players have almost not shot of winning MVP and that's stupid to me.

[ReasonablySober]

I'm a little surprised TJ Watt appears to be getting no push for MVP. 22.5 sacks in 15 games is kind of incredible.

At this point I'm all for splitting the MVP award into Defense / Offense.

There's already an offensive and defensive player of the year. Last year it was Derrick Henry and Aaron Donald. Kind of odd when the offensive player of the year and MVP are different but they usually are.

There is, but does anyone give a crap about the OPOY?

I guess my gripe is defensive players have almost not shot of winning MVP and that's stupid to me.

I think that's because when you come down to it a defensive player will never come close to providing the same value that a top QB does.

[WRau1]

Public opinion seems to be so in favor of Rodgers winning that it has me worried Brady gets it.

[PintSizedBox10]

Brady has literally zero argument outside of bulk stats.

Taylor and Herbert are more deserving.

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[Profound23]

Brady has literally zero argument outside of bulk stats.

Taylor and Herbert are more deserving.

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Besides Davante, Rodgers had a bunch of average wrs but two really good rbs so of course we ran the ball more.

TB had two average rbs but three really good wrs and a top TE so they padded his stats throwing the ball more.

Not sure why this isn't talked about more.

[MickeyDavis]

The same 50 who vote for All Pro also vote for MVP. Since Rodgers got 36 votes for All Pro he's a lock for his 4th.

[M-C-G]

Good. Ups his trade value if he decides he wants out.


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[ReasonablySober]

I think Brady's the clear MVP this year, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I'm glad Rodgers played at a level where it's reasonable to expect an insane return on a trade.

[Dennis Reynolds]

I think Brady's the clear MVP this year, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I'm glad Rodgers played at a level where it's reasonable to expect an insane return on a trade.

reported

[coolhandluke121]

If I understand correctly, a big part of Brady's comparable advanced stats (QBR) is rarely getting sacked, but isn't that also a testament to his o-line? Not gonna pretend I know how good their line is, but I know Brady is slow af, so I have to assume their line is doing its job if he's not getting sacked.

I have a simple rule for evaluating volume vs. efficiency in cases like this. If Rodgers played more games until he had the same stats as Brady, would he be helping the team? I'd argue not, because he'd be piling up yards and interceptions without a lot of TD's. Therefore I would argue that Brady did not create added value compared to Rodgers with his counting stats. The Cy Young debate was much more interesting in this regard, because I think Burnes would have helped his team a lot by pitching more innings at a less stellar level until he had the same stats as Wheeler or whoever else, which is to say that Wheeler was helping his team with the extra counting stats. I mean, it's not like Burnes would have had to pitch a bunch of bad games to bring his advanced stats down to Wheeler's level. In other words, that was a real debate, but Brady vs. Rodgers is just clickbait.

I actually supported Taylor until the last week, but with that game against Jacksonville, what can you do?

[HKPackFan]

Rodgers is making throws no one on the planet can make right now.

And he's got the production behind it.

2ints over the last 14-15 games is insane.

His in completion % is near 70% but even his Incompletions have been some incredible throws.

If he had a better hands group there would have been more crazy highlights.

Every week he's making jaw dropping throws. His accuracy is next level.

I do think he's the MVP.